Piece of material for an article of clothing and use of the piece of material for production of an article of clothing

ABSTRACT

Piece of material for an article of clothing (2) and use of the piece of material for production of a garment. The article of clothing is intended to cover at least the upper body and is provided with a front and a back which are finished with a lower edge, a shoulder section with a neck opening (13) and arms. The piece of material (1) has a first edge (3) which is intended to form the lower edge, a second edge (4, 5) opposite this, two side edges (6, 10 and 7, 11) opposite each other and two cuts (8, 9) which extend inwards from the side edges and which are finished at a distance from each other which corresponds approximately to the size across the chest. The piece of material is symmetrical about a center axis (16) on which the neck opening is located, the cuts (8, 9) form an angle, to the center axis (16), which, measured in the direction of the first edge (3), is less than 90°. The second edge is divided into two parts (4, 5) which each have an angle, to the center axis (16), which is less than the corresponding angle for the cuts (8, 9). The piece of material can be joined together by a single seam.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a piece of material for an article ofclothing or part of such and produced from a thin, web-like material,which article of clothing or part is intended to cover at least theupper body of a wearer and thus to be provided with a front and a backwhich are finished with a lower edge, and, opposite this, a shouldersection with a neck opening and, moreover, arms which are finished withwrists wherein the piece of material comprises a first edge, which isintended to form the said lower edge, a second edge opposite this, twoside edges opposite each other which connect the two first-mentionededges, and two cuts which extend inwards from the side edges and whichare finished at a distance from each other which correspondsapproximately to the size across the chest between the armpits for thebody side for which the garment is intended, wherein the piece ofmaterial is essentially symmetrical about a centre axis along which aneck opening is to be located close to the second edge and use of thepiece of material for production of an article of clothing or part ofsuch, which article of clothing or part is intended to cover at leastthe upper body of a wearer and thus to be provided with a front and aback which are finished with a lower edge, and, opposite this, ashoulder section with a neck opening and, moreover arms which arefinished with wrists, wherein the piece of material is produced from athin, web-like material and comprises a first edge which is intended toform the said lower edge, a second edge opposite this, two side edgesopposite each other which connect the two firstmentioned edges, and twocuts which extend inwards from the side edges and which are finished ata distance from each other which corresponds approximately to the sizeacross the chest between the armpits for the body size for which thegarment is intended, wherein the piece of material is essentiallysymmetrical about a centre axis along which a neck opening is to belocated close to the second edge, with the said cuts forming an angle tothe centre axis, which measured in the direction of the first edge, isless than 90°, and with the second edge divided into two parts eachprojecting from a side edge, which parts each have an angle, to thecentre axis, which, measured in the direction of the first edge, is lessthan the corresponding angle for the cuts.

As is known, production of an article of clothing consists of cutting apiece of material in one or several parts out of a web-like material,which piece of material can be described as two-dimensional, andthereafter joining together certain edge lines of the piece of materialto form the garment which is to enclose the wearer and which can bedescribed as three-dimensional.

With certain use forms of garments, economy of production is of firstimportance, whereas factors such as fit and a certain decorativeappearance of the garment are dispensed with. Typical of these areprotective clothes intended to be used once or a few times. Such agarment is largely justified only if it can be manufactured at a cost solow that the replacement cost is lower than the cost for washing a morepermanent garment and returning it to usable condition after occasionsof use. Examples of articles of clothing which are of value if they canbe produced in a one-use form are surgeons' gowns which it is desiredshould be sterile on use, a requirement which is difficult to satisfywith garments which are to be washed.

PRIOR ART

To achieve production at as low a cost as possible, the problem ofmaterial has to be tackled (in this connection non-woven fibre fabrichas proved to be an excellent material for use and at a relatively lowcost) as well as the problems of cutting and sewing.

An example of how an attempt was made to produce an efficient cuttingand sewing process emerges from U.S. Pat. No. 3,911,499; Benevento;Hinsch. A piece of material for a surgeon's gown is produced accordingto this specification in a single material-piece by means of a limitednumber of cut-lines. The sewing together of the piece of materialrequires essentially two arm seams and two seams for joining togetherthe back section.

This known gown is relatively efficient in production (it should perhapsbe noted that the laying-free of the arms requires two cut-lines, andthus two material-pieces are used up) but for its use it is notcompletely satisfactory. Firstly, the arm seams are on the underside ofthe arm, which is certainly common in many garments but which, in thisconnection, is a disadvantage. On the one hand fluid which, during anoperation, often runs from the hands firstly reaches the arm seams whereit collects and where it is easier for it to penetrate through thegarment than if it were spread over a non-cut surface. The arm seamsituated on the underside also easily catches on objects, which can becovered with fluid. Moreover, the fit is less good across the shouldersection with far too limited relative width for work which, for the mostpart, involves the arms being held out in front.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

The object of the present invention is to produce a piece of materialfor an article of clothing, which is highly efficient to produce avirtue of the fact that it requires an absolute minimum of cut-lines,which can be straight, and results in a minimum of material loss.

Another object is to produce a piece of material or a finished articleof clothing which is particularly well suited for surgical work becausethe arm seam is not placed on the underside of the arm and because anextra width is obtained in the shoulder section.

Yet another object of the invention is to produce a piece of materialfor an article of clothing which can be sewn together by means of asmall number of seams.

SOLUTION

The said objects are achieved by means of a piece of material for anarticle of clothing according to the present invention, which ischaracterized in that two cuts extend inwards from the side edges andform an angle, to the centre axis, which, measured in the direction ofthe first edge, is less than 90°, and that the second edge is dividedinto two parts each projecting from a side edge, which parts each havean angle, to the centre axis, which, measured in the direction of thefirst edge, is less than the corresponding angle for the cuts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the following there is described, with reference to the attacheddrawings, an embodiment of the piece of material or article of clothing,with the latter in two variants. The embodiment in this connectionprimarily refers to a gown intended to be used as a one-use garment forsurgical operations. Alternatively, however, a use as a jacket and alsoa design as a more permanent garment may be imagined, such as a designas an upper part together with a lower part, not described here, in, forexample, an overall.

In the drawings FIG. 1 shows the piece of material in a spread-out planestate;

FIG. 2 shows a cutting scheme for positioning the piece of material on amaterial web;

FIG. 3 shows a sewing scheme;

FIG. 4 shows, from the front, a gown produced from the piece of materialand of the type which is used for surgeons' gowns and with a closure atthe back;

FIG. 5 shows the same gown from the back; and

FIG. 6 shows, from the front, a gown with a closure at the front andintended to be of a more permanent type.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a piece of material 1 for a gown which is shown in FIGS. 4and 5 and which is hereinafter called the gown 2. The gown is intendedto be used as protective clothing for surgical operations and isprimarily intended to be designed as a one-use garment and of anon-woven material such as non-woven fibre fabric. This does not howevermean that a piece of material of the same type as the piece of material1 cannot be used also for other types of garments, as will be indicatedin greater detail in connection with the description of FIG. 6.

The piece of material 1 has a first straight edge 3, which delimits thelowest section of the gown and is hereinafter called the lower edge.

Opposite the lower edge 3 there extends an edge with two straight parts4 and 5 angled off from each other which, in the direction of the loweredge 3, lead to two outer edges 6 and 7 which are at right angles to thelower edge 3. The edge 4, 5 is hereinafter called the transverse edge.The outer edges 6 and 7 are finished, in the direction of the lower edge3, by cuts, hereinafter called arm cuts 8 and 9. Their inner ends are ata distance from each other which corresponds approximately to the sizeacross the chest between the armpits for the body size for which thepiece of material is intended. Between the arm cuts 8 and 9 and thelower edge 3 there extend straight edges hereinafter called the backedges 10 and 11. The back edges 10 and 11 run parallel to an extensionof the outer edges 6 and 7 inside the latter, and the outer edges 6 and7 constitute the greatest lateral extension of the piece of material.The material web from which the piece of material is to be cut out istherefore probably to be cut in a first cut along the edges 6 and 7 andtheir extensions, thus forming two areas 12 between the cut-lines of thelatter and the edges 10, 11 which lines are indicated by broken lines.The side edges of the piece of material are thus formed by the edges 6and 10 and 7 and 11 respectively.

The piece of material is identical on both sides and is thus symmetricalalong a centre axis 16, which divides the lower edge 3 in half and runsinwards between the transverse edge parts 4 and 5 where they form apoint. On this centre axis, which is indicated by a broken line, thereis a neck opening 13 which is formed by a tear-like cut-line 14 and isfinished with a cut 15 out towards the transverse edge 4, 5.

Important conditions in the piece of material are that the arm cuts 8and 9 are at an oblique angle down towards the lower edge 3 measuredfrom the centre axis 16. The transverse edge parts 4 and 5 are moreoblique in the same direction. They meet on the centre axis at the saidpoint. The angle for the arm cuts is thus greater (measured towards thecentre axis on the underside towards the lower edge 3) than thecorresponding angle for the transverse edge parts 4 and 5. The sectionwhich is formed between the arm cuts 8/9, the edges 6/7 and thetransverse edge parts 4/5 therefore widens from the side edges 6/7 andin towards the finish of the arm cuts 8/9. Differences in the anglesalso mean that the length of the arm cuts including their extension outto the centre axis 16 is shorter than the corresponding end edge part4/5. In the figure the said angle is approximately 75° for the arm cuts8/9 and approximately 60° for the end edge parts 4, 5.

FIG. 2 shows how a number of pieces of material 1 can be cut out of amaterial web the longitudinal edges of which are designated 18 and 19.As can be seen, the lower edges 3 of the piece of material are locatedat longitudinal edges 18 and 19, wherein one row of pieces of materialprojects inwards from one edge and one row in the converse positionprojects inwards from the second longitudinal edge. The outer edges 6and 7 of the piece of material are formed by cut-lines which extend fromrespective longitudinal edges and in towards the neck opening 13 of theopposite piece of material. The two rows of pieces of material areseparated from each other by a zigzag line which forms the transverseedge parts 4 and 5. In addition to the said cuts, only one cut isrequired to form the arm cuts 8 and 9 and to form the back edges 10 and11, the areas 12 being left over from the web. As will be shown later,the areas 12 can be used as supplementary parts.

FIG. 3 shows how the piece of material 1 is sewn together. Only one seamneeds to me made. The sections inside the back edges 10 and 11 are firstfolded in so that they meet at the centre axis. Thereafter half of thepart which is located between the arm cuts 8/9 and the transverse edgeparts 4/5 is folded down so that the outer sections of the end edgeparts 4/5 meet the upper edges of the arm cuts 8/9 while the innersections of the end edge parts meet the lower edges of the arm cuts,which, on the first-mentioned folding-in, are thus positioned in thecentre of the piece of material. In order for the seam to be made, thecentral section of the piece of material between the inner edges of thearm cuts must be moved aside so that the sections inside the back edges10 and 11 are not sewn onto the central section which is to form thefront of the garment. This has been effected according to FIG. 3 by thepiece of material being turned back in such a way that the said edgeswhich meet each other form an outer edge on the piece of material foldedtogether, which makes it easier to sew. Now a seam, designated 20, onlyhas to be sewn along the said edge thus forming both the arms and theseam directly below shoulder-blade height between that part of the backof the garment which is formed by the sections inside the back edges 10and 11 and the upper part of the back which is formed by the centralsections below the transverse edge parts 4, 5. If a tie-knot is desiredon the garment, the divided-up pieces of the sections 12 can be placedin the seam, and such a tie-knot has been designated 21 and 22 in FIG.3.

FIG. 3 shows that the garment is turned inside out during sewing, whichis common when it is desired to have the free material edges on thereverse of the garment. Thus the tie-knots 21, 22 lie inside thegarment.

As was previously mentioned, each end edge part 4, 5 is longer than thecorresponding arm cut 8, 9 together with its extension in towards thecentre axis 16. This greater length is taken up by virtue of the factthat, on the back of the garment, the section inside the end edge isfolded to form a fold 23 on each side, a fold which is to be positionedon a level with the finish of the respective arm cut 8, 9. The fold isfolded and sewn firmly to the seam 20.

The fold 23 is required to be open in towards the centre, a conditionwhich is reversed in the case of a garment turned the right way round(in FIG. 3 the fold is hidden by the overlying front of the garment andis thus shown with broken lines).

When the seam 20 has been made and the threads in the middle where theback edges 10 and 11 meet have been cut off, the garment is readyprovided that it has been made of a non-woven material which does nothave to be hemmed, and provided that it is not desired to sew on anyadditional fitting to the garment.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the gown prepared in this way. As can beseen the front is completely undivided. The edge 3 forms the lower edgeof the garment. The arm seam extends from the top side of the armopening and around the arm to the lower edge of the same where itbecomes the transverse seam which, immediately below shoulder-bladeheight, joins the upper and lower sections of the back as shown in FIG.5. At the wrists, which are formed by the edges 6, 7, the gown shown isprovided with arm wristlets 25, which is common in the case of surgeons'gowns and which requires a special fixing operation. If it is desiredthat the gown should have a belt, this can be prepared from the parts12, which, as mentioned, are used for preparing the tie-knots 21 and 22,as shown also in FIG. 5.

By virtue of the tear shape of the neck opening 13, the neckbandprotects the neck at the front but at the same time provides highmobility since it does not fit tight at the back. However, it is alsopossible to make other types of neck openings, even those with a stiffcollar, which is preferred in certain cases.

FIG. 5 also shows the fold 23. It constitutes, together with thedirection of the arm seam, an important detail for the fit and usabilityof the garment. As mentioned, the positioning of the arm seam on the topside of the arm is advantageous for work garments and especially forsurgeons' gowns. The direction of the seam around the arm below thearmpit gives a good fit for the arms and improves their mobility. Thefold 23 gives extra space across the shoulder section, which facilitatesforward movement of the arms and reduces stress on an exposed importantpoint of the garment.

FIG. 6 shows a garment 26 of a more permanent type, for example abathrobe or dressing-gown. The piece of material is essentially the sameas that described previously. However, in this case the gown is intendedto be used with the opening to the front and parts which were said to beback edges in the previously described gown have been folded down toform lapel 27.

This is only one additional example of how a piece of material accordingto the invention can be used for production of a garment. As mentionedat the outset, the piece of material can, by means of shortening, alsobe used for jackets or for the top parts of garments such as overalls.The size of the piece of material is, of course, to be determinedaccording to standard sizes and desires in respect of arm length, gownlength etc. It should be mentioned in this connection that the saidfactors, the forced armseam and the fold at the armpit make the garmenthighly adaptable to different body sizes so that the sizes in which thegarment is produced do not have to be as close to each other in respectof dimensions. The said angles are also adapted to the use and design ofthe garment. The smaller the angle for the upper part of the piece ofmaterial is in relation to the angles of the arm cuts, the greater isthe fold 23 and vice versa. For joining together in the case of certainmaterials sewing can be replaced by welding or glueing.

I claim:
 1. Piece of material for an article of clothing (2) or part ofsuch and produced from a thin, web-like material, which article ofclothing or part is intended to cover at least the upper body of awearer and thus to be provided with a front and a back which arefinished with a lower edge, and, opposite this, a shoulder section witha neck opening (13) and, moreover, arms which are finished with wrists,wherein the piece of material comprises a first edge (3), which isintended to form the said lower edge, a second edge (4, 5) oppositethis, two side edges (6, 10 and 7, 11) opposite each other which connectthe two first-mentioned edges, and two cuts (8, 9) which extend inwardsfrom the side edges and which are finished at a distance from each otherwhich corresponds approximately to the size across the chest between thearmpits for the body size for which the garment is intended, wherein thepiece of material is essentially symmetrical about a centre axis (16)along which a neck opening (13) is to be located close to the secondedge (4, 5), characterized in that the said cuts (8, 9) form an angle,to the centre axis (16), which, measured in the direction of the firstedge (3), is less than 90°, and in that the second edge is divided intotwo parts (4, 5) each projecting from a side edge (6, 10 and 7, 11),which parts each have an angle, to the centre axis (16), which, measuredin the direction of the first edge (3), is less than the correspondingangle for the cuts (8, 9).
 2. Piece of material according to claim 1,characterized in that the two parts (4, 5) of the second edge meet in apoint on the centre axis (16).
 3. Piece of material according to claim2, characterized in that the said angle to the centre axis (16) for thetwo cuts (8, 9) is approximately 75° and the angle for each of the twoparts (4, 5) of the second edge is approximately 60°.
 4. Piece ofmaterial according to any one of claim 1-3, characterized in that thesaid edges have a first part (6, 7) between the cuts (8, 9) in questionand the second edge (4, 5) and a second part (10, 11) between the cutand the first edge (3), wherein the piece of material has a greaterbreadth over the first edge parts than over the second, so that thefirst edge parts form the greatest lateral extent of the piece ofmaterial, while the second edge parts are cut in in relation to thelatter.
 5. Use of the piece of material according to any one of claims1-3 for production of an article of clothing (2) or part of such, whicharticle of clothing or part is intended to cover at least the upper bodyof a wearer and thus to be provided with a front and a back which arefinished with a lower edge and, opposite this, a shoulder section with aneck opening (13) and, moreover, arms which are finished with wrists,wherein the piece of material (1) is produced from a thin, web-likematerial and comprises a first edge (3) which is intended to form thesaid lower edge, a second edge (4, 5) opposite this, two side edges (6,10 and 7, 11) opposite each other which connect the two first-mentionededges, and two cuts (8, 9) which extend in from the side edges and whichare finished at a distance from each other which correspondsapproximately to the size across the chest between the armpits for thebody size for which the garment is intended, wherein the piece ofmaterial is essentially symmetrical about a centre axis (16) along whicha neck opening (13) is to be located close to the second edge (4, 5),with the said cuts (8, 9) forming an angle, to the centre axis (16),which, measured in the direction of the first edge (3), is less than 90°and with the second edge divided into two parts (4, 5) each projectingfrom a side edge (6, 10 and 7, 11), which parts each have an angle, tothe centre axis (16), which, measured in the direction of the first edge(3), is less than the corresponding angle for the cuts (8, 9),characterized in that the piece of material (1) is joined together withthe outer sections of the second edge (4, 5) joined to that edge of therespective cut (8, 9) directed towards the said second edge, and theinner sections of the second edges (4, 5) joined to those edges of thecuts which are turned towards the first edge, wherein the sectionnearest the second edge (4, 5) is folded over the section nearest thecuts (8, 9) and over the central part of the piece of material lyingtherein, with the outer sections of the second edge meeting the saidcut-edges and the sections between the cuts (8, 9) and the first edge(3) folded in towards each other to meet, by means of their edges formedby the cut, the inner, central section of the second edge (4, 5).
 6. Useaccording to claim 5, wherein use is made of the piece of materialaccording to claim 2, characterized in that, on joining together, a fold(23) is made in the material in that section which connects with thesecond edge (4, 5) approximately on a level with the inner finish ofeach cut (8, 9), and with the fold being of such a size that the edgesjoined together, despite their length being different due to the saiddifferent angles, follow each other with the material essentially smoothoutside the fold.
 7. Use according to claim 6, characterized in that, onjoining together, a fastening device for the garment, such as a tie-knot(21, 22), is fixed in the same operation.